Trade and security expected to dominate Barack Obama's Asia visit

South Korean President Park Geun-hye, US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a meeting in March. Mr Obama will this week visit Japan and South Korea as part of a week-long Asia tour

AFP, file photo

US President Barack Obama is set to begin a week-long trip to Asia expected to be dominated by security and trade.

Mr Obama will visit Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines for talks his administration hopes will focus on trade and deeper economic ties.

Issues like security and 'territorial integrity' are also expected to be high on the agenda.

Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asian Affairs, Evan Medeiros, says the US has to get those allies to talk to each other, no matter how old their disputes or strong their grievances.

"What we want is for our allies to get along as well, because trilateral security cooperation is an essential component for dealing with the multiple security challenges facing north-east Asia," he said.

It's not just disputed islands in north-east Asia and North Korea's missile program, but also disputed islands and shipping lanes in South East Asia, that the US is concerned about.

The Ukraine crisis is also expected to figure.

Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, Ben Rhodes, says Barack Obama is pleased with the strong reaction from Asian nations at the recent UN General Assembly to Russia's annexation of Crimea.

"I think one of the reasons why you saw that vote at the UN is because Asian nations don't like the precedent being set that a nation's sovereignty, or territorial integrity, can be violated with impunity," he said.